The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 2 eBook

’Sanjaya said,—­“Slain in the
evening the Kuru grandsire Bhishma saddened the Dhartarashtras
and delighted the Panchalas. Falling down on the
earth, he lay on his bed of arrows without however,
touching the earth with his body. Indeed, when
Bhishma, thrown down from his car fell upon the surface
of the earth, cries of Oh and Alas were heard among
all creatures. When that boundary-tree of the
Kurus, viz., the ever victorious Bhishma, fell
down, fear entered the hearts, O king, of the Kshatriyas
of both the armies. Beholding Bhishma, the son
of Santanu, with his standard overthrown and his armour
cut open, both the Kurus and the Pandavas were inspired,
O monarch, with sentiments of cheerlessness.
And the welkin was enveloped with a gloom and the Sun
himself became dim. The Earth seemed to utter
loud shrieks when the son of Santanu was slain.
This one is the foremost of those conversant with the
Vedas! This one is the best of those that are
conversant with the Vedas!—­Even thus did
creatures speak of that bull among men as he lay (on
his bed of arrows).This one, formerly, ascertaining
his sire Santanu to be afflicted by Kama, this bull
among men, resolved to draw up his vital steed!—­Even
thus did the Rishis together with the Siddhas and the
Charanas said of that foremost one of the Bharatas
as he lay on his bed of arrows. When Santanu’s
son Bhishma, the grandsire of the Bharatas, was slain,
thy sons, O sire, knew not what to do. Their
faces wore an expression of grief. The splendour
of their countenances seemed to abandon them, O Bharata!
All of them stood in shame, hanging down their heads.
The Pandavas, on the other hand, having, won the victory,
stood at the head of their ranks. And they all
blew their large conchs decked with gold. And
when in consequence of their joys thousands of trumpets,
O sinless one, were blown there, we beheld O monarch,
the mighty Bhimasena, the son of Kunti, sporting in
great glee, having quickly slain many hostile warriors
endued with great strength. And a great swoon
overtook all the Kurus. And Karna and Duryodhana
repeatedly drew long breaths. When the Kuru grandsire
Bhishma fell down, thus, cries of sorrow were heard
all round, and the greatest confusion prevailed (among
the Kuru army). Beholding Bhishma fallen, thy
son Dussasana, with great speed, entered the division
commanded by Drona. That hero, clad in mail and
at the head of his own troops, had been placed by
his elder brother (for the protection of Bhishma).
That tiger among men now came, plunging the troops
he had commanded into grief. Beholding him coming
towards them, the Kauravas surrounded prince Dussasana,
desirous, O monarch, of hearing what he had to say.
Then Dussasana of Kuru’s race informed Drona
of Bhishma’s slaughter. Drona then, hearing
those evil tidings, suddenly fell down from his car.
Then the valiant son of Bharadwaja, quickly recovering
his senses, forbade the Kuru army, sire, to continue
the fight. Beholding the Kurus desist from battle,